Study: T belt-tightening would hurt health

Proposals to cut MBTA service and raise fares could cost Boston area commuters hundreds of millions of additional dollars and produce potentially dire health consequences, according to a report being released Tuesday by a regional planning group.

The 20-page report from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council found that proposed fare increases and service cuts to plug the T’s $161 million deficit would result in a surge of cars on the road, increasing pollution, crashes, and obesity, among other harsh impacts on residents’ quality of life.